The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-12-22
MOAT-GRANGE.
BY Mis-. HESRr WooD.
CHAPTER III.-Coxr1NuEp,

SuSu "0S AOe MIs. OdI iHpic :.
..What plan can be adoptcd?" she
asked. quitting that part Of the subject.
did he positively refuse to come down
with you?"
He positively refused. l might as
well have tried to move a mountain
down here. Something ought to be
done-if you could only tell what. Of
course things got worse. night by
night. Any night he may stake the
Grange"
stake the Grange!" uttered Selma
Dalrymple. whatever do you mean?"
stake it and lose it." added Oscar.
when the mania for play sets in on a
man, he is not content to confine his
ventures to trihes.'
''But do not understand" returned
Selma. How could he stake the
Grange? 1t is in the Dalrymple family.
and can not GO out of It."
HE might stake its value. Mortgage
it, that is, for his own life."
'.And could we not remain in it?"
she quickly asked.
Scarcely. It might take every
shilling Of its in-comings to pay off the
interest You could not live here upon
nothing"
Would it be sacrificed; useless to us
for SO long as Charles ived?" Selma
reiterated, not comprehending yet.
Oscar nodded. II am only saving
what he might do; do not say he will.
He might SO hamper US and involve the
estate, that he could never derive fur
Their benefit from it. Or his family
either. SO long as he lived"
.Would it return to us at his death?
am sure if he is to sit up all night, he
will destroy his health and de-" she
mournfully added.
"It--wOuld return into the family, -
spoke Oscar. hesitating where the
pause has been put.
Alice Dalrymple, who had been buried
In reverie, looked up. A contingency
had occurred to her which she had
never thought of before; 50 entirely
had the Grange been theirs, in theil
fathers recent lifetime, and in the Ger.
tainty Of its descending to Charles aft
erward. Suppose any thing were te
happen to Charles?" she said, ..whose
would the Grange be? Mamma's?''
No one answered her.
oscar. ask you, would it 60 t.
mammap'
NO.
ITO whom, them"
MY DEAR" interposed Mrs. Dial
rymple, lit would be Oscars. It goel
to the male line
The answer took both the young Ia
dies by surprise, but they were silent
They stole glance at him; red, con
scious light had flown into his usually
pale cheek.
- never knew it, breathed Selma
''And it is of little import your know
ing it now" cried Oscar. II am a
likely TO come in to the Grange as an
to be made prime minister. Charles il
. younger man than am"
But If Charles were to play i
away" resumed Alice. lit would b.
yours them
'.Alice, you are unusually dull to
day." said Mrs. Dalrymple. "Wer'
Charles to be SO infatuated-which
have little fear of; none. indeed
would not be Oscars any more than il
is now
Whose then, mamma? was think.
ing Of something else when you were
talking
Charles still. Only he could no,
enjoy it. His creditors would take
care Of that"
poor Charles!" uttered Alice. HE
has been left to himself, up there, ht
has had nobody to turn to for advice
or counsel, and dare say he has only
done, what he has done, from thought
lessness. A word from mamma may
set him right. Do you not think yor
ought to 60 to him, mammal
"Yes, Alice. have been rcsolvine
on it, now, as we were talking"
1T is the only plan," returned o.
car, looking at Mrs. Dalrymple. HE
may listen to YOU"
II will go-to-morrow is Sunday
the first thing on Monday morning
You must accompany me, Oscar
If you wish it, / will"
Monday morning dawned, and all
got up to the early breakfast-table
OVCu ANY, WuOSc ldu0u6SS was III
apology for not rising early in general.
In the midst Of breakfast, James came
in, and looked at Oscar Dalrymple.
viii you please to step here, sir, .
minutep"
"What for?o
Just for a minute, sir" repeated
James.
Oscar went out, some bread-and- but
ter in his hand, for there was no time
70 spare. James shut the door.
Here's Reuben come down, sir, By
the night mail" he whispered: HE
told me to fetch you out to him. bu,
not to say TO mistress that It was him. y
Oscar walked quickly across tho bah.
Reuben. who was peeping tu him.
dom the Kitchen passage, turned iasu
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